Casting apparatus



y 7, 1940- M. ROBBINS 2.199.598

. CASTING APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1939 INVENTOR MAx Roasms ATTORNEY Patented May 7, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE Smelting and Refinin g Company, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application July 14, 1939, Serial No. 284,465

1 Claim.

This invention relates to casting apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for filling molds as same are continuously advanced on a travelling conveyor.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus of the type above indicated.

Another object is to provide a simple and automatic filling means which does not require the services of an attendant for transferring the filling spout from one mold to the next as the successive molds are filled.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of the type above indicated in which the quantity of liquid supplied to the various molds may be readily adjusted and accurately maintained.

Another object is to provide a casting mechanism which is capable ofoperating with a minimum of supervision.

Various other objects. and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of I this invention will be pointed out more particularly in theclaim appended hereto, the invention itself will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a portion of a casting machine embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the invention is shown as applied to a series of moldslfl which are of any suitable form or shape and are continuously driven by suitable means such as a travelling conveyor, not shown. The molds ID are shown in Fig. 1 as mounted on rollers ll riding on rails l2. It is to be understood that the molds may be connected and driven by any suitable means so as to cause the molds to suecessively pass the filling station and, after allowing a sufficient time for the casting to harden, the molds may be tilted by suitable mechanism, not shown, for removing the casting. Only so much of the casting mechanism has been shown as is necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

The filling mechanism for supplying molten metal, for example, lead, to the molds is shown as comprising a pot or kettle M which is heated 5 by any conventional means for maintaining metal in the molten state. The metal is sup plied to thepot M in any convenient manner and provision may be made to maintain a constant liquid level therein. The liquid metal is discharged through a supply pipe l5 controlled by a valve IS. The supply pipe l5 extends from a boss I! formed in the pot M to a position over the molds Ill. The free end of the pipe I5 is supported by suitable means, not shown. The 15 end of the supply pipe I5 is closed by a plug l9 which is removable for cleaning purposes.

Mounted upon the supply pipe I5 is a pouring wheel 29 having a. hub portion 2| and a plurality of radially extending spouts 22 which com- 20- municate with said hub portion. Suitable bearings 23 are provided for mounting the pouring wheel on the supply pipe IS. The spouts 22 are so arranged, as illustrated in Fig. 2, that each spout registers with an individual mold ID as the 25 molds are advanced past the pouring wheel. The pouring wheel 20 is driven by the travelling molds.

The supply pipe I5 is provided with a discharge orifice 25 which, in the embodiment shown, is 30 in the form of an elongated slot located within the hub portion 2! of the pouring wheel 20. The orifice 25 is displaced from the bottom of the pipe in the direction from which the molds advance so that the metal flowing through the 5.

discharge orifice tends to pass through the descending spouts for filling the advancing molds.

In this way the metal is largely prevented from entering the ascending spouts after the molds have been filled, thereby eliminating the tendency of the spouts to drip. It will be noted that the spouts are of such length that the free ends of the spouts are located directly over the advancing mold at all times while the spout is in a pouring position. 45

In the operation of this apparatus, the molds I 9 are advanced continuously by any convenient means. A bath of molten metal is maintained in the pot M. This molten metal is discharged through the orifice 25 of the supply pipe at a 50 rate determined by the head of metal within the pot l4 and the condition of adjustment of the valve IS. The metal accordingly discharges from the'oriflce 25 in a continuous stream which is directed by the spouts 22 into successive advanc- 5 in: molds. It will be noted that the pouring begins as themold advances toward the rotating, pouring wheel and that each mold is filled to the desired level before theassociated pourin: spout is advanced to a point atwhich the supply of metal is cut on. By displacing the discharge orince in the direction. or the empty molds,, as illustrated in Fla. 2, the molds may be substantially filled before they have advanced to a position such that the pourinz spout is removed thereirom. The discharge oriilce can, of

, course, be otherwise positioned, depending upon the particular metal or material being poured, the size and contour of the molds, etc., it de- It will be notedthat the above described mechanism provides means for individually successive molds without requiring: the addition of an operator for chansins the pouring, spout as each moldis filled. The ro ine wheel is autowill thereafter all be automatically tilled to the desired level without further attention.

While specific terms have been used herein for convenience in referring to various details of the apparatus illustrating the invention, it will be apparent that same is capable of diflerentuses and that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claim. I

What is claimed is: I

Metal casting apparatus comprising a plural; it: of travelling molds mounted to successively pass a pourinu' station," a supply pipe-for liquid metalto be cast extending transversely over said molds at said pouring station, said (pipe having a discharge orifice, a hollow casting wheel iournalledon said pipe and having a hollow hub member forming a chamber to receive liquid met-i al from, said 'discharse oriiice, said casting wheel havinza plurality oi. spouts arranged to suc-' cessively with successive molds as the molds are to and past the pourin: station, said wheel being drivenbythe advancin: molds' -whereb'y, as-"each mold reaches the pourin: station} is directed into the mold by La cooperating spent and as the mold beyond the pourina station, the spout 'asoends'thereby cutting oi! the -supply of liquid metal to the mold. I 

